Startup 121: Lessons for the Recession from Rice Krispies

The past few months have been, how shall I say, pretty crappy and have caused lots of cut backs for most startups (and companies of every size).  Mostly, this has meant laying people off, cutting expenses, and generally “battening down the hatches to weather the storm”.

I randomly had several conversations with people on the topic of what a startup (or any organization) should do in times like these and some basic things came up each time:  Read more... (1217 words, 2 images, estimated 4:52 mins reading time)

1. Measure to manage
2. Mix it up
3. Take calculated risks

Econ 120: What Taxes and Splitting the Restaurant Bill Have in Common

Since it’s tax day and all, I figured why not post something that I am sure will spur lots of conversation (or maybe controversy?)

There are so many (mis?)perceptions on the tax system, I decided to get some facts about how it all works, or at least, to see what of the rhetoric is true.   In particular, in most of the press and political speak out there, the common perception is:

1. Tax cuts only benefit the “rich”
2. The “rich” actually pay fewer taxes

Dear Mr. President, Two Wrongs Are Still Two Wrongs

Dear President Obama,

I can only imagine how busy you are these days, so let me be get to the point.

With all due respect, two wrongs will not make a right.

By responding to AIG’s bonus fiasco with exorbitant (extortionist?) tax rates on the bonuses of employees at banks with TARP money, a second wrong will most certainly only cause more harm to our very fragile financial system.  In addition, it sets a precedent of using the tax system to punitively target minority groups of our country with excessive tax rates which is a very dangerous step for the government to take.  Read more... (1031 words, 1 image, estimated 4:07 mins reading time)

What if Steve Jobs was GM’s CEO?

In the continuing General Motors saga, Thomas Friedman, author of The World Is Flat and a NY Times columnist, suggested at the end of an article that Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, become CEO of GM for a year to fix its problems.  That, plus some of the emails I received, beg the question “What lessons from Apple might apply to fixing GM?”  Read more... (1430 words, 2 images, estimated 5:43 mins reading time)

What if GM was a startup?

Over the past few weeks, a lot has been written about the auto industry and what they should do. As I read everyone’s advice, I keep asking,

“What would GM do if it was a startup?”

To start with, how would I explain the problem to the Board of Directors? The issue seems, well, pretty simple:

1. They are making cars that fewer people want to buy.
2. They are not making money on the ones people do buy.

 Read more... (1409 words, estimated 5:38 mins reading time)